Immersion in penguin guano (waste) from nesting Adélie penguin colonies in the summer.

Immersion in both freshwater (from melting glaciers and snow and rain) and saltwater
(from waves splashing on the land).

Dehydration from exposure to very dry air in the winter.

Exposure to intense UV rays. The protective ozone layer is naturally thinner here,
and there is a hole in it (probably caused by human pollution) that opens up in the winter.

Lack of oxygen, due to being encased in ice for long periods, as well as being immersed in penguin guano filled
with oxygen-using microbes.

Visit our Study Sites page to learn more about the terrestrial
habitats of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Here are some of the terrestrial animals we’ve encountered
on the Antarctic Peninsula:

Belgica antarctica —

The focus of most of our
research here, this wingless midge (a type of fly) is the only true
insect found on Antarctica, and is considered the continent’s largest
terrestrial animal (it’s only 2-6 mm long!). Belgica undergoes
complete metamorphosis (like many insects), meaning it has a larval
and an adult form that are quite different. This insect is amazingly
resistant to all kinds of stresses in both its life stages. Among
its adaptations:

Cryptopygus antarcticus —

A species of Collembola, or springtail (closely related to, but not quite
considered a true insect). They do not change much as they develop (unlike Belgica’s
metamorphosis from larva to adult), and are also well adapted to their environment. Some adaptations:

Very dark coloration, absorbs heat

Lives for three or more years, accumulating enough nutrients to reproduce

Floats on water due to a hydrophobic exoskeleton and the tendency to form rafts, or clusters

Supercools (cools extensively without freezing) to -22°F in the winter

Ixodes uriae —

A parasitic tick (an Arachnid, in
the same class as spiders and mites). It feeds
on the blood of Antarctic and Arctic seabirds, including penguins,
petrels, and Arctic and Antarctic terns. These ticks are found
at high latitudes in both hemispheres. Adaptations:

Tolerates temperatures from -22°F to 104°F! (104°F is the temperature of the blood of
some birds)

Tolerates starvation for approximately 11 months, only feeding once per year